Inconclusive Covid test

GDB2222

I am on a research database, and I was asked to do a Covid swab test, even though I have no Covid symptoms. This came back 'inconclusive'. Does anyone know what this really means?  I should just add that I have had no Covid symptoms whatsoever, except that my coffee tasted a bit metallic the other day. Apart from that my sense of taste seems to be normal.

Barny1979

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/what-your-test-result-means/

Unclear, void, borderline or inconclusive test result

An unclear, void, borderline or inconclusive result means it's not possible to say if you had coronavirus when the test was done.

Get another test as soon as possible if this happens. You can get a test to check for coronavirus on GOV.UK.

If you had a test because you had symptoms, you must keep self-isolating and have another test:

• within 8 days of your symptoms starting (England and Northern Ireland)
• within 5 days of your symptoms starting (Scotland and Wales)

If you're not able to have another test in time, you must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must self-isolate for 14 days. Read more about how long to self-isolate.

If you had a test but have not had any symptoms, you do not need to self-isolate while you wait to get another test. People you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, do not need to self-isolate.

epm-84

A relative of mine was in the same position as you, asked to take a routine test not because they were showing symptoms and it came back inconclusive.  They got retested the second test came back positive and soon after they developed symptoms.  Remember symptoms can take up to 14 days to develop from when the virus first infects you and if you've only just been infected then there won't be enough of the virus present to return a positive result.

Although, there are other possible explanations as well but if I were you I'd be very careful and would certainly not try to visit any elderly relatives just before lockdown restrictions come in to play.

silvercar

Have you had a trial vaccine? Could it be that the vaccine is the reason that you are getting an inconclusive result?

GDB2222

silvercar said:

Have you had a trial vaccine? Could it be that the vaccine is the reason that you are getting an inconclusive result?

I am taking part in a vaccine trial, but I am fairly sure I got the placebo. 

I saw the trial doctor this morning, as I went along for my second placebo injection. She said that perhaps I hadn't done the swab well enough, but that makes no great sense as I'd expect to be negative then, unless I actually did have Covid. If she thought I had been infected, but the vaccine had helped, I'd have expected her to show more interest. Besides that, I was quite careful to follow the guidelines for swabbing. 

Anyway, if I do have Covid, I've had a great opportunity to infect several nurses at the vaccine trial this morning.

They issued me with several swab kits, and I think I'll do the test again and see how that comes back.



 

silvercar

GDB2222 said:

silvercar said:

Have you had a trial vaccine? Could it be that the vaccine is the reason that you are getting an inconclusive result?

I am taking part in a vaccine trial, but I am fairly sure I got the placebo. 

I saw the trial doctor this morning, as I went along for my second placebo injection. She said that perhaps I hadn't done the swab well enough, but that makes no great sense as I'd expect to be negative then, unless I actually did have Covid. If she thought I had been infected, but the vaccine had helped, I'd have expected her to show more interest. Besides that, I was quite careful to follow the guidelines for swabbing. 

Anyway, if I do have Covid, I've had a great opportunity to infect several nurses at the vaccine trial this morning.

They issued me with several swab kits, and I think I'll do the test again and see how that comes back.



 

Trials should be double blind, so the doctor shouldn't know who has the placebo.
Hopefully the nurses have been tested and have antibodies, if they are letting them near you without protective equipment - for your protection as well as theirs.

silvercar

@GDB2222,

do we have an update? Have you been told whether you had the placebo or the actual vaccine? What now happens regarding the vaccine programme?

Thrugelmir

Presumably the trial won't end until it has to. More historic data that's available the better. 

GDB2222

It has been agreed that trial participants will be unblinded when they get close to being offered a Covid vaccine.